Reading Metrics
Grade Level
Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
Book Level
7.8
Points
3.0
Fiction/Nonfiction
Nonfiction
Word Count
19001
Points per Word
0.000158
Page Count
104
Points per Page
0.028846
Description
The book explores the science of extreme longevity in the natural world, examining plants and animals that have lifespans far exceeding human expectations. It features specific examples like the 80,000-year-old Pando aspen colony, 11,000-year-old deep-sea sponges, and 400-year-old sharks. The text explains the technologies scientists use to determine age, including DNA sampling, growth rings, and radiocarbon dating, and investigates how these organisms resist disease and aging.